Love is Most Important

I am involved in a little family project right now that has made me realize that my "four children" have now morphed into twelve! (I know my place as mother-in-law and grandmother, but they are all mine.)

This is truly something to smile about! My three oldest boys have chosen wives that are perfect for them. And women that are the best mothers...bar none.

I have been transferring some old videos to DVD, and it's bringing back some great memories. Through it all, I realize that truly, what matters most in life is love...feeling it and demonstrating it.

About twenty-four years ago, our family had a little argument that went like this...

Mom - "I love you."

Son - "I love you, too."

Mom - "Well, I love you one million!"

Son - "Well, I love you outside of numbers!"

Who won the argument? All of us! It has become my favorite saying because it is so true. I treasure a Christmas present I received several years ago...a key chain with the inscription "We love you outside of numbers!" I keep it with me all the time to remind me of those fabulous twelve people and the other wonderful people to come!

Who do you love outside of numbers...Have you told them lately?

I Believe

For about 30 years I've hoped to visit Palmyra, New York. Finally, this past weekend, that dream was fulfilled. Being in the grove where I believe God and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith as he prayed strengthened that belief.

I loved the climb up the steep Hill Cumorah...the feeling of peace while I thought about all the things that have taken place there.

The Book of Mormon is God's word to us at a time we need it desperately. That book coupled with the Bible outlines God's plan of happiness for us.

All the world has to offer...wealth, power, etc. will never provide the peace we each seek. That peace comes only from living God's plan for us.

We can all know for ourselves. In fact, that's what our prophet, Thomas S. Monson asks us to do. Ask God. He answers quietly, with that peaceful feeling beyond description. He answered me, and I am forever grateful.

Five Good Things...

This post has been in the making since June 28th, the day I always celebrate Carmen Dino's birth. I knew Aunt Carmen my whole life...she lived across the street from Mama and Daddy when I was a baby. She was an amazing woman...words can never do her justice.

James E. Faust once said, "You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do…” Her influence on me continues today. Maybe you'll read something here that will help you think about something differently.

Aunt Carmen had polio when she was a little girl. It left her with one leg that was useless and never grew. A Shriner saw her playing in the park, dragging her little leg behind her. She endured many surgeries at the Shriner's hospital, finally having her joints fused so she could walk.

In the days she lived, choices for women were more limited. She made the unlikely decision to be a hairdresser, standing for hours every day. Aunt Carmen spent time helping me learn to "fix" my dolls' hair...washing, cutting, rolling...For many years I thought I'd become a hair stylist, just like Aunt Carmen.

She could be blunt, but she never meant it in a hurtful way. She’d be the first to tell you if your hair looked good...or bad. She’d tell you if she liked what you cooked...or that it wasn’t too good. She’d just laugh with you if the news was bad.

She loved shopping, eating out, and she loved my mother. She was a strong woman that faced adversity with grace and laughter. She was also one of the most positive thinkers I ever met. Aunt Carmen got through the most difficult things in life by saying, "There are five good things about this situation..."

When Mama received the news that she had cancer and wouldn't live more than about six months, she immediately began to tell me the five good things about having cancer. I tried to laugh with her. It was hard...But we had both seen how you can find the good in every situation if you look for it.

When faced with disappointment or difficult situations, the first thing that comes to mind is..."There are five good things about this..." I'm grateful to realize that happiness comes not from circumstance but from the way you think about things.

I hope this picture makes you smile. These two women continue to influence me every step of my life, and this picture captures their fun-loving, optimistic spirits...

I love you both outside of numbers, Mama and Aunt Carmen!

So long, farewell...

Last week was one of the best ever! It's time to move on and create more best days.

But first, I want to share a few more pictures from "grandkids camp." Maybe next year it will be "cousins camp" with the addition of Goldilocks...I don't know, it takes a brave kid to leave home for a week!

Turns out, this was deemed the "favorite part" of camp...

Causing me to wonder why I spent so much time gathering materials for other activities...Thanks, Skip To My Lou, for great ideas for summertime fun! Because whatever they say, it takes a lot to keep two boys busy for a week...not to mention for a lifetime...

The Best Day Ever!

We took the opportunity to enjoy the warm weather here by going to the "beach." It's not the white sands of Pensacola...However, a picnic by the water was lots of fun. Hours were spent building sand castles, "seats," and other things. Seeing some sail boats up close was pretty exciting...As we left, Batman commented, "This is the best day ever!"

Batman looks a lot like his dad looked, and that comment reminded me of a comment his dad made when he was about the age Batman is now...

The three boys and I went to Sam's Club to get a few things before my family came to visit. Planning to have sandwiches one day, I put a large container of croissants in the cart. Then these classic words..."This is the best day of my life because you're buying these breads!"

Maybe if we found joy in the simple things we'd have more "best days ever!"

Here are some shots of our "crystal" lake and the beach!

Glub...Glub...Two boys in the tub...

Looking for a fun way to practice learning letters, making words, and creating fun pictures?

Foam sheets, scissors, and a tub make for lots of laughs!

Read more here.

Life is just a bowl of cherries...

Batman and Wolverine have come to my house this week. We've had lots of fun.

On the trip here, Batman commented, "I don't know why my stomach feels a little weird about me coming to your house. The rest of me feels really good!" Sometimes life is like that, isn't it?

Here's a sweet story to start things off...We have a cherry tree and it's full of cherries. The boys were very excited about picking cherries and making a pie.

We went to church Sunday morning. In the car on the way home Batman said, "My teacher loves cherries. We should pick some cherries and take them to her." I told him that was a good idea, but she worked out of town and it might be hard. He insisted she really loved them and we should call her and find out when she would be home.

Long story short, she was leaving at 2:00 that afternoon. She, of course, encouraged me to explain to Batman she was leaving and that I'd bring them another time. He was having none of it. So we picked a few, and then I took a bag out of the freezer to take to her. She cried saying how sweet it was of him. On the way home he felt so good.

Batman: "I'm glad I did a nice thing."

Me: "You do a lot of nice things."

Batman: "I try to do nice things, but sometimes I forget I'm trying to do that and I don't. But now I did a nice thing and I'm going to remember to do nice things because it makes people happy. It's okay that we picked all the red ones and gave them to her. In a few days the pink ones will be red and then we can pick them and make a pie."

When I told him we had some in the freezer we could use now to make a pie, he was really excited.

Just think what life would be like if we were all more like kids! Let's all do a nice thing today!